Help with old H&R revolver

KTOHIO · September 13, 2012, 02:54 PM

I have received an old 32 caliber revolver in which I'm looking to get some information on. I don't collect guns but this was given to my by my Mom and it's been in the family I believe since my great grandfather. (not sure).

It's a:
H&R / Smith & Wesson
.32 Caliber
5 round
Top Break
3" barrel

SN# on bottom of handle and under the barrel (once removed to see) is:
385347

The top of the guns barrel says Harrington & Richardson with an address and PATENT date of 1895

Any help would be great.

carguychris · September 13, 2012, 03:21 PM

Your revolver is a Harrington & Richardson product. As with numerous other older revolvers, it fires a cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson, but it is NOT a Smith & Wesson product.

FWIW the late 19th century S&W top-break line was immensely popular and spawned legions of similar knockoffs from companies like H&R, Iver Johnson, Meriden, Hopkins & Allen, and others. These guns would often feature deceptively large "SMITH & WESSON" rollmarks that were nominally there to denote the cartridge the gun fired, but were intentionally overemphasized to fool unwitting buyers into believing they were buying a genuine, well-renowned S&W product. These markings still work their magic today.

aarondhgraham · September 13, 2012, 03:26 PM

I deleted all of my Senior Moment text about .38 S&W cartridges.

Aarond

.

MLeake · September 13, 2012, 03:33 PM

Aarond, not to give you too hard a time, but the OP said it's a .32.

KTOHIO · September 13, 2012, 03:33 PM

The only marking on the gun that says S&W is on the side of the barrel.

.32 cal. S & W CTGE

Top of the barrel:

Harrington & Richardson Arms Company
Worcester, Mass. U.S.A. PAT OCT 8, 1895
SN# under barrel and on bottom of handle 385347

I know it's been in our family for a long time as I remember the gun when I was 10 and that's been 32yrs ago. My mother is 73 and has had this her entire life.

I'm just looking for some information on the gun and it's production date.

Thanks

KTOHIO · September 13, 2012, 03:37 PM

I'm not looking to fire the gun. I'm just looking for information on it. AGE of the gun, the ACTUAL manufactoring date.

aarondhgraham · September 13, 2012, 03:37 PM

So what are you saying Mleake?,,,
That I should probably clean my glasses?,,,
Are you saying that I should perhaps see an eye doctor?

It's all good my friend,,,

I did read .32 but thought .38,,,
Thanks for being so polite to my old self.

I'll chalk this one up as a Senior Moment.

Aarond is now officially embarrassed!

.

Venom1956 · September 13, 2012, 03:40 PM

Quote:

.32 cal. S & W CTGE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.32_S%26W
Which denotes the round it fires has nothing to do with manufacturer.

Quote:

Harrington & Richardson Arms Company
Worcester, Mass. U.S.A. PAT OCT 8, 1895
SN# under barrel and on bottom of handle 385347

As others have covered that is the manufacturer. Your looking for info on a H&R revolver. not a s&w

KTOHIO · September 13, 2012, 03:44 PM

Here are some pics..
Thanks

aarondhgraham · September 13, 2012, 03:50 PM

Here is a link for ammunition,,,

Click here please.

Aarond

.

KTOHIO · September 13, 2012, 05:05 PM

OK a Harrington and Richardson .32 Caliber, 5 round, Top Break revolver. Pat. OCT. 8th, 1895. SN# 385347 , the SN# can be found on the bottom of the handle, on the inside of the handle cover on gun itself, and once the barrel is rotated off, under the Top Break area.

ONLY LOOKING FOR:

AGE
DATE OF MANUFACTURE
PRICE (worth anything)
WHO MIGHT HAVE OWNED IT (My Grandfather or Great Grandfather)

Thanks

Venom1956 · September 13, 2012, 05:09 PM

H&Rs aren't particularly 'valuable.' I'd guess 200ish? Just of the top of my head. maybe less.

TheSILENTtype · September 13, 2012, 05:13 PM

Your gun is the second model Premier small frame auto ejecting. in the third variety that was made between 1908 and 13. It will handle modern smokeless loads in low quantity in .32 S&W only. It will be deemed the 'new' model by some since it was made after 1904.

One just sold for 190US , another for 140.

KTOHIO · September 13, 2012, 05:51 PM

Thank you very much!!

TheSILENTtype · September 13, 2012, 06:03 PM

You are very welcome, Sir.

carguychris · September 14, 2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

It will handle modern smokeless loads in low quantity in .32 S&W only.

+1. I would like to add a mandatory warning statement that I should have mentioned earlier.

DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT USING .32ACP (aka .32 Auto or 7.65mm Browning) AMMO IN THIS GUN!! IT IS NOT SAFE!! DO NOT LISTEN TO ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU OTHERWISE!!

This cartridge is far more commonly available and generally less expensive than .32S&W, and it will usually chamber and function properly in these guns, albeit with occasional problems caused by the undersize case rim. However, it operates at substantially higher pressure than .32S&W. Older top-break revolvers categorically aren't very strong, and .32ACP may blow the gun apart, catastrophically damaging it and possibly causing serious, permanent injuries to the shooter's fingers and eyes.

Unfortunately, some people seem to believe that using .32ACP in these guns is OK, sometimes because they've tried it a handful of times and been lucky, or because their friend's cousin's auto mechanic's uncle's Army buddy did it. THIS DOES NOT MAKE IT SAFE.

DON'T DO IT.

September 13, 2012, 02:54 PM	#1
KTOHIO Junior Member Join Date: September 13, 2012 Posts: 6	Help with old H&R revolver I have received an old 32 caliber revolver in which I'm looking to get some information on. I don't collect guns but this was given to my by my Mom and it's been in the family I believe since my great grandfather. (not sure). It's a: H&R / Smith & Wesson .32 Caliber 5 round Top Break 3" barrel SN# on bottom of handle and under the barrel (once removed to see) is: 385347 The top of the guns barrel says Harrington & Richardson with an address and PATENT date of 1895 Any help would be great.

September 13, 2012, 03:21 PM	#2
carguychris Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 7,523	Your revolver is a Harrington & Richardson product. As with numerous other older revolvers, it fires a cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson, but it is NOT a Smith & Wesson product. FWIW the late 19th century S&W top-break line was immensely popular and spawned legions of similar knockoffs from companies like H&R, Iver Johnson, Meriden, Hopkins & Allen, and others. These guns would often feature deceptively large "SMITH & WESSON" rollmarks that were nominally there to denote the cartridge the gun fired, but were intentionally overemphasized to fool unwitting buyers into believing they were buying a genuine, well-renowned S&W product. These markings still work their magic today. __________________ "Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules... MARK IT ZERO!!" - Walter Sobchak

September 13, 2012, 03:26 PM	#3
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Hello KTOHIO,,, I deleted all of my Senior Moment text about .38 S&W cartridges. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time) Last edited by aarondhgraham; September 13, 2012 at 03:40 PM.

September 13, 2012, 03:37 PM	#7
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Hello Mleake,,, So what are you saying Mleake?,,, That I should probably clean my glasses?,,, Are you saying that I should perhaps see an eye doctor? It's all good my friend,,, I did read .32 but thought .38,,, Thanks for being so polite to my old self. I'll chalk this one up as a Senior Moment. Aarond is now officially embarrassed! . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time) Last edited by aarondhgraham; September 13, 2012 at 03:55 PM.

September 13, 2012, 03:50 PM	#10
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Link to ammunition,,, Here is a link for ammunition,,, Click here please. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

September 13, 2012, 03:33 PM	#4
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	Aarond, not to give you too hard a time, but the OP said it's a .32.

September 13, 2012, 05:05 PM	#11
KTOHIO Junior Member Join Date: September 13, 2012 Posts: 6	OK a Harrington and Richardson .32 Caliber, 5 round, Top Break revolver. Pat. OCT. 8th, 1895. SN# 385347 , the SN# can be found on the bottom of the handle, on the inside of the handle cover on gun itself, and once the barrel is rotated off, under the Top Break area. ONLY LOOKING FOR: AGE DATE OF MANUFACTURE PRICE (worth anything) WHO MIGHT HAVE OWNED IT (My Grandfather or Great Grandfather) Thanks

September 13, 2012, 05:09 PM	#12
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	H&Rs aren't particularly 'valuable.' I'd guess 200ish? Just of the top of my head. maybe less. __________________ E-Shock rounds are engineered to expend maximum energy into soft targets, turning the density mass into an expanding rotational cone of NyTrilium matrix particles, causing neurological collapse to the central nervous system.- Yeah I can do that. I guarantee you will know it if a bicyclist hits your house going 1000 mph. -Smaug

September 13, 2012, 05:13 PM	#13
TheSILENTtype Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2012 Posts: 139	Your gun is the second model Premier small frame auto ejecting. in the third variety that was made between 1908 and 13. It will handle modern smokeless loads in low quantity in .32 S&W only. It will be deemed the 'new' model by some since it was made after 1904. One just sold for 190US , another for 140. __________________ THE SILENT TYPE

September 13, 2012, 05:51 PM	#14
KTOHIO Junior Member Join Date: September 13, 2012 Posts: 6	Thank you very much!!

September 13, 2012, 06:03 PM	#15
TheSILENTtype Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2012 Posts: 139	You are very welcome, Sir. __________________ THE SILENT TYPE